Type-writer attachment.



No. 700,755. Patented May 27, I902. J. S. FLANDERS.

TYPE WRITER ATTACHMENT.

(Application filed Dec. 11, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PAT NT OFFICE.

JOHN S. FLANDERS, OE STURGIS, MICHIGAN.

TYPE-WRITER ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 700,? 55, dated May 27, 1902. Application filed December 11, 1901. Serial No. 85,454. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that LJ HN S. FLANDnRs,a citizen of the United States, residing at Sturgis, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Michigan,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Type-Writer Attachments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to type-writer attachments, of which the object is to provide a mechanism operated by the foot of the operator and adapted to be connected with the shift-key of a type-writer, obviating the use of the hand thereon, and, further, to provide a cheap and simple means of operating the shift-key of a type-writer, easily connected thereto at any convenient point and readily detached therefrom, dispensing with the use of a spring or other additional deviceon said shift-key. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

Figure l is a side elevation of a type-writin g machine with my improvement attached. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of a portion of my improvement resting on the floor. Fig. 3 is a cross-section elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the clamp attachment of my improvement. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the bolt-and-pin attachment.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts in each of the several drawings.

Numeral 1 designates the frame of a typewriting machine. 3e 5 are the connections between the shiftkey 2 and the carriage.

The attachment consists of abase 9,adapt-' ed to rest on the floor and formed, preferably, of plate metal. A suitable portion of one end 10 is turned up at a required angle thereto, the upper end of which is bent at a right angle backward, forming a stop 15 to detain a foot-lever 8. Side pieces 16 of the upright 10 are clipped out and turned backward and over the stop 15, forming abrace for the same. One side of va triangular piece 11 of the upright 10, withfthe rectangular portion let of the base 9 integral therewith and bent at right angles thereto, is cut out and bent forward in line with the axis of said base, forming a supporting-bracket 11 for said upright 10 and may be secured to the floor at 14:. A foot-lever 8 is attached to the base byahinge l3 and kept in position up against the stop 15 by a spring 12, resting on the base 9. A flexible metal clamp 6 is placed over the shiftkey 2,0n which it rests squarely and is formed to clasp the same firmly, as shown in Fig. 4, and thus retain its position, and is connected by a wire 7 or other flexible material, attached to the lower end through an orifice therein, with a hook on the upper end of a screw-threaded pin 18, inserted in a screwthreaded recess out in aheaded bolt 19, which projects through the orifice 20 in the foot-lever 8. The tension of the wire 7 is readily adjusted by the manipulation of the pin 18. The spring 12 raises the lever 8 when relieved of foot-pressure.

The device may be placed in any convenient position on the floor beneath the typewriter machine, so as to permit the placing of the clamp 6 on the shift-key, and being flat can bereadily inserted without affecting the movement of adjacent keys. The formation and flexibility of the said clamp enable it to clasp firmly the shift-key, and thus secure a permanency of position and convenience of the operator.

The improved construct-ion of my device also eliminates the interposition of a spring or other means under the shift-key to cause the retraction of the foot-lever and renders my improvementa complete self-contained device readily attached and removed.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings plainly show that my improvement obviates the necessityof'the use of the operators hand to operate the shift-key.

Having fully described my invention, what Patent, is-

A type-writer attachment comprising a footpower adapted to be placed on the floor in any convenient position, composed of a base, an upright portion, side pieces and a stop, formed thereon, a triangular bracket and rectangular integral base, a spring, a foot-lever hinged to said base, a hooked, screw-threaded pin, operating in a screw-threaded recessed and headed bolt, in combination with a flexible metallic clamp, adapted'to clasp a shiftkey, and a flexible connection between said clamp and said pin, all substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN S. FLANDERS.

WVitnesses:

ADA L. ROETHER, FRED E. DART.

I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters I 

